Dental articulator



Dec. 26, 1950 B. LYONS DENTAL ARTICULATOR 3 Sheefcs-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1949 5- 4 INVENTOR.

6 sswn/w/rv LTONS ay vgzwwqbf Dec. 26; 1950 Filed Jan. 11, 1949 B. LYoNs 2,535,146

DENTAL ARTICULATOR 3 SheetsSheet 3 was:

M BENJAMIN LYO/VQ N INVENTOR.

" bottom model assembly.

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DENTAL ARTICULATOR Benjamin Lyons, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application January 11, 1949, Serial No. 70,178

8 Claims. 1 This invention relates to dental articulators. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dental articu ator whereby an adjustment 1 vide an articulator wherein both the upper and lower supports are so constructed as to permit the lateral adjustment alone in a horizontal plane of the model, the vertical adjustment of the model alone or the universal or tilting adjustment of the model sideways, fore and aft or a a combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention ,to provide an articulator wherein all the diiferent movements of the jaws of the mouth can be simulated.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an articulator capable of being adjusted -to simulate all of the movements of the jaws which is of simple construction, easy to manipulate, inexpensive to manufacture, accurate and precise, compact and sturdy, and emcient in op- .eration.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the dental articui lator embodying the features of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken ithrough the upper model support on line 3-3 of ,Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower jaw model support taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2,.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the socket ro clamps of the upper model support,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper model supporting plate with the model thereon removed from the clamp parts,

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view jtaken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6 showing how the .model retainer is connected to the upper supporting plate,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the model and the retaining plate removed from the supporting plate,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the model alone 1 free of its retaining plate,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective viewpf the Fig. '11 is a perspective and collective view of the socket and rod clamp parts of the lower support assembly.

Referring now to the figures, II' represents an upper model support assembly and I2 represents the base or lower model support assembly. On the upper support assembly I I there is secured in a manner to be related, upper jaw model I3 while on the lower support assembly I2 there is secured, in the manner to be related, lower jaw model I4. The base" or lower jaw assembly I2 has upward extending pins I5 on which a frame I6 including sleeves I6 is mounted for supporting the upper support assembly I I at different vertically adjusted positions. Hand set screws H in the sleeves I6 fix the frame I6 to the upper support assembly in any of their vertically adjusted positions.

The upper support II has a main plate I8 with a large opening I8 therein. A shaft I9 of hexagonal section is vertically adjustable through opening I8 in the main plate I8 and is secured by a threaded end I9 and stop shoulder I9" onto a drop supporting plate 20, Figs. 3 and 6, onto which is horizontally slid a model retaining plate 20 to which model I3 is attached by screw 20". The retaining plate with the model I3 is slid horizontally onto the supporting plate 20 and is held against inward displacement by a screw lock 20", Figs 6 and '7.

Onto respective top and bottom faces of the main plate I8 are upper and lower clamping plates 2| and 22. These plates lie over the opening I8 of the main plate and when loose can be laterally shifted to horizontally position the plates and the jaw model I3 in a manner to be presently described. The lower clamping plate 22 has an internally and externally threaded upstanding sleeve projection fixed thereto and extending upwardly through the opening I8 and through the clamping plate 2|. A threaded clamping screw 24 is fitted intothe upstanding sleeve 23 for vertical adjustment. This clamping screw 24 has arms 25 and 26 for effecting the turning thereof in the upstanding sleeve 23. The clamping plates 2I and 22 are held against the upper and lower face3 of the main plate I8 by a clamping nut 24' threaded from the external threads of the sleeve projection 23 and has arms 25' and 26 for eifecting the turning thereof. With the clamping nut 24' tightened upon the sleeve 23 the clamping plates are held in their horizontally adjusted positions on the main plate I8.

It can thus be seen that merely loosening the clamping nut 24 the jaw model I3 can be adjusted upon the main plate 18 to any desired horizontal location and thereafter upon tightening the clamping nut 24' it can be fixed in this horizontal location.

Surrounding the vertically extending rod 19 are opposing lock elements 2! adapted to laterally engage the rod to retain the rod and the supporting plate 2e raised to the clamping plate '22 or any position dropped therefrom. These opposing lock elements 21 are vertically elongated and of elliptical shape so that when top and bottom sockets 2'! and 27 are drawn together upon the lower clamping plate 22 with clamping screw 24 the rod l9 and the parts supported thereon will be positively locked against universal adjustment. The socket 2? has projection 21 cooperating with a vertically extending slot 23 in threaded sleeve projection23.

to prevent its rotational displacement with respect thereto. These sockets have openings sufficientlylarge to permit a limited tilting adjust- -mento'f the rod-and the parts connected thereto whereby the jaw model it can be tilted with respect to the main plate is upon the supporting plate 28 being dropped from the clamping plate 22. By having the opposing lock elements 2'! "elongated and generally of elliptical contour they willnot shift after clamping screw 2 is tightened .Ifor angular adjustment ofmodel '53. Such angular adjustment may take place after nut 2'4 is in tightened positi'on.

The 'jaw model 13 is formed of 'mol'dable ma terial'about 'a plastic insert iii" into which fastening screws 28" are extended upon securing the jaw model It to retaining plat'e'it l.

The-clamping plates 2-! and 22 are secured to the main plate 38 independently of the clamping nut 24' by a screw 28 anda wing mess extending through slotted arm projections 39 of the clamping plates 2i and 22 and the main plate 18.

To the main plate l8 there is connected by TaSteningscreWS-S I, laterally spaced arms 32 and 3'3 'having a horizontally extending pivot shaft 34 iix-ed thereto. The ends of this pivot shaft 'removably rest upon'hinged brackets 35 whereby to permit the upper jaw support assembly to pivot upward free of the lower assembly in the manner as indicated with dot dash lines in Figure 2. A spring 37 secured to the frame 1'5 and engaging with the horizontally extending "shaft 3 releasably retains the upper assembly on the shaft brackets 3 5.

Anad'justable screw 35 is-extended vertica ly through the plate 18 and is'locked in vertically extending position by lock nuts ii and 52. This screw'has a head-43 adapted to come to-rest upon an inwardly extending-stop plate l -ll on the frame Hi'wh'ereby to support the upper jaw model 13 overthe lowerjaw model I' l.

The lower support assembly l2 comprises a main plate 4 6 having a large central opening 46', Figure 4. Secured to the respective top and bottom faces of themainplate 46 are upper and "lower clamping plates 4's and The clamping plate "4? has a depending socket portion '4'! fitting a-depending socket portion 28 of the clamping plate '48. These socket portions when fitted togetherform a socket for semi-spherical member 4'9 which has 'a depending externally and. internally threaded sleeve projection fie thereon to hold the plates against relative lateral displacement and to hold member 49 against tilting when locked.

A supporting plate 51 has 2. depending rod '52 'fixed to the sameby its threaded end "52'. This;

4 rod extends downwardly through the semispherical member 55 and through opposing rod locking elements 53. These locking elements are not of true ball shape but have upper and lower rounded ends adapted to fit recess id" in the lower end of the semi-spherical member 43 and a similar but larger recess in a socket pate having a projection 52 slidable in a slot of v the sleeve projection L39.

Under the socket portion is an annular member 55 recessed to receive the portion is and having a projection 55 extending inwardly into the slot or" the sleeve projection 43' o prevent rotational displacement of the member 56 relative thereto. A clamping nut 51' having arms 5? thereon can be tightened against the member 56 upon the threaded proection E9 to retain the cup shape member in any one of its tilted positions in the clamping plate socket port ons. The. tilting of the member perm tte when clamping nut '5'! is loosened and then tightened to any desired tilt. This permits a horizontal. lateral and tilting adjustment of the jaw model M when secured to the supporting "plate 5i by its re'tainina plate '58 as by means of fa tening screws 59 entering plastic insert GI in the molded "aw model M.

The locking elements for the rod 52 are clamped about rod 52 upon adjusting clamping screw 62 in the sleeve projection to cause the socke'tplate 54'to be brought tight upon the lower ends of the locking element 53. This may take place after clamping nut 51 has been tightened. This locks rod '52 in any up or down or vertical position. By tightening screw 62 such position is made 'rigid'because of the shape of locking elements '53. The clamping plates 41 and 48 respectively have slotted arms 63 and 64 b which the plates can be fixed against horizontal displacement on the'main-part 46 by a bolt 65 and a Wing nut '66. v

The retaining plate 58 of the jaw model M is held on the supporting plate 5| against outward displacement by a thumb screw 67, Figure 10.

It should now be apparent that'there'has'been provided a dental articulator whereby the upper and lower 'jaw model supports can be adjusted vertically a one, horizontally alone, and universally. There is no movement of the jaws of the mouth which cannot be duplicated by this articulator. The clamping parts are so constructed and arranged that free adjustment of the various supporting parts can be easily and readily had as the clamping parts are loosened.

Conventional supports .can be used with either one of the above described supports and the upper and lower supports can be reversed upon the articulator if desired.

While various changes'may bemade in the detail description, it sha l be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of .the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental articulator comprising upper and lower jaw model supports, a frame connecting said supports together, means for hingedly connecting the upper support to said frame, one of .said supports comprising a main pate with a large opening therein, clamping plates disposed on the opposite sides of said opening and adjustably movable thereover, a threaded shank extending from one of said clamping'plates through'the main plate opening and through the other clamping plate, and a clamping nut connected to said rounded top and bottom external surfaces and adapted to grip the rod, socket means engageable with said surfaces from above and below and a clamping element operable Within said shank for bringing said socket means into engagement with the lock elements.

2. A dental articulator as defined in claim 1, and said lock elements being vertically elongated, said socket means comprising top and bottom socket elements one of said elements having a lateral projection, said shank having a vertically extending slot receiving said lateral extending projection of the socket elements to prevent rotation relative thereto.

3. A dental articulator as defined in claim 1, and said shank on the clamping plate comprising an internally and externally threaded sleeve projection, said clamping element for the clamping plates comprising a nut threadedly engageable with the external threads of the sleeve projection, and said clamping element for the socket means comprising a screw threadedly connected to the internal threads of the sleeve projection.

4. A dental articulator as defined in claim 1, and each of said clamping plates having laterally extending slotted anchor arms, and a clamping bolt extending through the respective arms of the clamping plates and the main plate to secure the clamping plates upon the main plate against rotational displacement.

5. A dental articu ator as defined in claim 1, and said shank of the clamping plate comprising a socket portion, a semi-spherical member fitted in the socket portion fOr universal adjustment therein, said semi-spherical member including a socketmeans for receiving certain of the external surfaces of the locking elements.

6. A dental articulator comprising upper and lower jaw model supports, a frame connecting said supports together, means for hingedly connecting the upper support to said frame, one of said supports comprising a main plate with a large opening therein, clamping plates di posed on the opposite sides of said opening and adjustably movable thereover, shank means extending from one of said clamping plates through the main plate opening and through the other clamping plate, and a clamping nut connected to said shank means to releasably secure the clamping plates to the main plate in any of their horizontal adjusted positions thereover, a sup porting plate, a jaw model having a retainer plate releasably secured to said supporting plate, a rod adjustable through the clamping plates and the shank means of the one clamping plate, said rod. being of polygonal section, separable lock elements having rounded top and bottom external surfaces and adapted to grip the rod, socket means engageable with said surfaces from above and below and a clamping element operable upon said clamping plate shank means for bringing said socket means into engagement with the lock elements, said shank means of the clamping plate comprising a socket portion, a semi-spherical member fitted in the socket portion for universal adjustment therein, said semi-spherical member including part of said socket means for receiving certain of the external surfaces of the locking elements, and the other clamping plate having a socket portion receiving the socket portion of the one clamping plate and said semi-spherical member carrying said shank, the shank having an internally and externally threaded sleeve projection, a socket ring surrounding the projection and engageable with a clamping plate socket portion, said clamping nut being connected to the external threads of the sleeve projection and engaging with the socket ring, said socket means for the lock elements further includin a socket plate engageable with the other surfaces of the lock elements, and a clamping screw engageable with the socket plate and the internal threads of said sleeve projection.

'7. A dental articulator comprising upper and lower jaw model supports, a frame connecting said supports together, means for hingedly connecting the upper support to said frame, one of said supports comprising a main plate with a large opening therein, clamping plates disposed on the opposite sides of said opening and adjustable shank thereover, means extending from one of said clamping plates through the main plates to the main plate in any of their horizontal adjusted positions thereover, a supporting plate, a jaw model having a retainer plate releasably secured to said supporting plate, a rod adjustable through the clamping plates and the shank means of the one clamping plate, said rod being of polygonal section, separable lock elements having rounded top and bottom external surfaces and adapted to grip the rod, socket means engageable with said surfaces from above and below and a clamping element operable upon said clamping plate shank means for bringing said socket means into engagement with the lock elements, said shank means of the clamping plate comprising a socket portion, a semispherical member fitted in the socket portion for universal adjustment, said semi-spherical member including part of said socket means for receiving certain of the external surfaces of the locking elements, and the other clamping plate having a socket portion receiving the socket portion of the one clamping plate and said semispherical member carrying said shank, the shank having an internally and externally threaded sleeve project on, a socket ring surrounding the pro ection and engageable with a clamping plate socket portion, said clamping nut being connected to the external threads of the sleeve projection and engaging with the socket ring, said socket means for the lock elements further including a socket plate engageable with the other surfaces of the locking elements, and a clamping screw engageable with the socket plate and the internal threads of said sleeve projection, and said sleeve projection having a vertically-extending slot, said socket ring having a radially inwardly extending projection entering said slot to be retained against rotational displacement upon the sleeve projection, and said socket plate for the lock elements having a radially extending projection entering the slot of the sleeve projection whereby to retain the socket element against rotational displacement.

8. A dental articulator comprising upper and lower jaw model supports, a frame connecting said supports together, means for hingedly conaaemee -.:necting the :upper support to said frame, zone :of

said ;,s.upports comprising a main plate with a large eopening therein, clamping plates disposed :on the opposite sides of said opening and adiustably extendable thereover, means extending from ne of said clamping plates through the main'plate opening andthrough the otherclampfing plate, and a clamping nut connected tosaid extending means to releasably secure the clamping plates to the main plate in any'of their horizontal adjusted positions thereover, a supportingplate, a jaw model having a retainer plate releasably secured to said supporting plate, a rod adjustable through the clampin plates and -theextending means of the one clamping plate,

said rod being of polygonal section, separable lock elements having rounded top and bottom external surfaces and adapted to grip the rod,

-;socket=means-engageable with said surfaces from above and below and a clamping elementoper- -;able upon said clamping plate extending means and having respectively interfitting socket portions, a semi-spherical member adjustable in said socket portions and having an internally and externally threaded sleeve projection thereon, clamping nut means securable to the sleeve projection and engageable with the socket portions of the clamping plates whereby to secure the clamping plates to the main plate, a supporting plate having a rod of polygonal section extending through the clamping plates and through the semi-spherical member, a jaw model releasably fitted upon the supporting plate, a socket element adjustable in the sleeve projection, separable locking elements on the opposite sides of the rod and adapted to have gripping engagement therewith, said separable locking elements having rounded surfaces, said semi-spherical member having surfaces for receiving the rounded surfaces of the lockin element, and a clamping screw engageable with other surfaces of the locking element to bring the locking elements into gripping relation with the rod.

BENJAMIN LYONS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Phillips Feb. 9, *1937 Number 

